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The best entertainment spots in Boulder, as voted on by Colorado Daily readers, are as follows:
BEST MUSIC
VENUE
Boulder Theater
2032 14th St.
303-786-7030
Locals voted the Boulder Theater as their favorite music venue.
It's no surprise, as the downtown nightclub features a wide assortment of indie, acoustic, rock, jam and jazz acts. Plus, the venue offers an amazing sound system and a very cool vintage ambience.
The theater always brings in big national acts like Jeff Tweedy, Sheryl Crow, Ziggy Marley, Medeski Martin & Wood and the Broken Social Scene, and shows off up-and-coming local bands.
The Boulder Theater also hosts movies and film festivals, and lots of special events. In addition, the staff's always friendly and helpful.
RUNNER-UP
Fox Theatre
1135 13th St.
303-443-3399
BEST MUSIC
FESTIVAL
CU WelcomeFest
Held on Farrand Field, CU Boulder
303-492-7704
Score another one for the CU Program Council.
Every August, PC hosts a free concert on CU's Farrand Field that's been dubbed WelcomeFest. The event is strictly for students-- and every year the event features up-and-coming indie artists.
Past WelcomeFests have featured 3OH!3, Pretty Lights, Girl Talk and Chiddy Bang. All the shows packed Farrand Field with 10,000 students.
You can bet something big's planned for this August.
RUNNER-UP
Snowball Music Festival
BEST SKI RESORT
Eldora Mountain Resort
21 miles west of Nederland
303-440-8700
Who has the time and money to travel to expensive ski resorts?
Eldora Mountain Resort is located 20 miles up Boulder Canyon and you can get there by bus. The bus trip is free -- if you have an Eco Pass.
The local ski resort offers affordable ski packages, lesson for all levels, 11 lifts, 680 acres of skiing, free parking and lots of special events.
RUNNER-UP
Vail
BEST SPA
Essentiels Spa
2660 Canyon Blvd.
303-440-0711
When Boulderites want to relax and be pampered, they head over to the Essentiels Spa.
The spa's located in Boulder's Marriott Hotel and offers a wide variety of services.
Clients can enjoy massages, facials, body wraps and a variety of services found at elite spas.
RUNNER-UP
St. Julien Hotel and Spa
900 Walnut St.
720-406-9696
BEST RUNNING AND HIKING TRAIL
Mount 
.05 mile west of Fourth St. on Mapleton Ave.
303-441-3440
Boulder's one of the healthiest towns in America, and a good chunk of the population loves to run and hike.
Locals picked Mount Sanitas as their favorite place to run, hike and walk. The beautiful trail is located west of the Pearl Street Mall, so it's close enough for easy access and far enough away to feel like you're really in the mountains.
The trails are perfect and the scenery is inspiring. That's why Boulder loves to hike Mount Sanitas.
RUNNER-UP
Chautauqua Park
Chautauqua Park, 900 Baseline Rd.
303-442-3282
BEST OPTICAL
STORE
Aspen Eyewear
2525 Arapahoe Ave.
303-303-447-0210
Aspen Eyewear is a third-generation company that's been operating in the Boulder area for over 50 years.
Locals head over to the eye store for its on-site custom-lab, friendly staff, speed of delivery and repair work.
Aspen Eyewear sells a wide-variety of glasses, sunglasses and frames. Plus, the store offers an independent eye specialist that deals with contact lenses and eye exams.
RUNNER-UP: TIE
College Optical
1310 College St.
303-444-3092
Wink Optical
3301 30th St.
303-443-4311
BEST POOL
TABLES
Sundown Saloon
1136 Pearl St.
303-449-4987
This isn't the place where you take mom and dad when they come to town, but locals love to play pool at the Sundown Saloon.
The underground nightspot is the ultimate college hangout. This is the place where you can down PBRs, play a mean game of foosball, get in a few games of pool -- and hear a live band once in awhile.
Last year, local rockers Rose Hill Drive played a free show for Boulder fans at the Sundown.
Ultimately, locals head down to the Sundown to catch a good game of pool. There are loads of tables and it's a relaxed atmosphere to work on your game.
RUNNER-UP
The Connection
Located in CU's University Memorial Center
303-492-6338
BEST LOCAL
MUSICIAN/
GROUP
Words in Flight
It's a very DIY world in the music industry. Bands are recording music in their basement and surfacing from the underground, so there are a lot of Colorado groups popping up out of the blue.
Words In Flight plays a mix of indie, pop and rock. The local band cites Radiohead, The Decemberists and Bob Dylan as its major influences. The band's been building its following playing local venues like the Dark Horse.
Full disclosure: One member of the band works for the Camera, the Daily's sister paper.
RUNNER-UP
Jeff Brinkman
BEST EYE
CARE PROVIDER
Aspen Eyewear
2525 Arapahoe Ave.
303-303-447-0210
See Best Optical Shop.
RUNNER-UP: TIE
Beyer Laser Center
1810 30th St.
303-499-2020
Envision Boulder
1011 Pearl St.303-939-8021www.envisionboulder.com
BEST BIKE SHOP
University Bikes
839 Pearl St.
303-444-4196
Boulderites love to bicycle, so when they're looking to purchase a bike or repair their vehicle, they head down to University Bikes.
The bike store features a wide variety of bicycles for sale, and they offer all kinds of bike accessories. University Bikes also provides custom bike fitting and rentals.
Plus, the staff's friendly and knowledgeable, and the repair work is first-rate.
RUNNER-UP
Full Cycle
839 Pearl St.
303-444-4196
1795 Pearl St. and 1211 13th St.
303-440-1002 and 303-440-7771
BEST OUTDOOR
GEAR STORE
REI Boulder
1789 28th St.
303-583-9970
REI has been of one Boulder's favorite outdoor stores since 2002. This year, Boulder voted REI its favorite outdoor gear store.
REI is known for its extensive selection of gear and outdoor clothing, rental equipment, and ski, snowboard and bike services.
Locals also enjoy the free outdoors classes that REI offers. You can learn about everything from avalanche survival to bike maintenance at these workshops.
RUNNER-UP: TIE
Boulder Army Store
1545 Pearl St.
303-442-7616
Neptune Mountaineering
633 S. Broadway St.
303-499-8866
BEST SKI AND SNOWBOARD SHOP
Boulder Ski Deals
2525 Arapahoe Ave.
303-938-8799
Locals head over to Boulder Ski Deals once the first snowflakes hit town.
Boulderites know they can find sweet deals on downhill skis, snowboards, telemark and cross-country equipment, outdoor gear and rentals at this ski store.
Boulder Ski Deals is also known for its knowledgeable staff and convenient location.
RUNNER-UP
Christy Sports
2000 30th St.
303-442-2493
