The Boulder Pearl Street Mall: almost magical
Published: Mar 23, 2009
Some call Boulder’s downtown mall a three-ring circus that never stops. People come from across Colorado, the United States and the whole world to watch colorful buskers squeeze themselves inside little boxes or perform magic shows and for an indefinable something else.
On any bright day, visitors might find a swing band strumming out the songs of Benny Goodman, a belly dancer swaying and shimmying and jangling her belt of silver coins or a group of karate kids doing a demonstration for their school by breaking boards.
The Zip Code Man might be entertaining the crowds gathered in front of the bank. This amazing mnemonist has memorized every zip code in the country. Tell him your numbers, and he’ll not only tell you the names of the cities and suburbs in which you live, but he’ll make up a story about the nearby restaurants, movie theaters and sports arenas of your hometown.
The Mall’s biggest show, however, is the people who come to enjoy each other’s company in a nice place and to hang out.
The four blocks of red bricks, sun and sparkling air make up one of America’s first outside malls and probably the finest. Who doesn’t appreciate the Mall’s exceptional quality, that almost magical ambience that enchants so many?
Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have cafés and the patios of eateries open to the streams of people walking by. One of Colorado’s best restaurants, Frasca, lies only a couple of blocks away, while on the Mall itself, other restaurants serve everything from sushi to wood-fired pizza to the huge desserts of The Cheesecake Factory.
There are the stores selling both high-end clothing and funky hand-me-downs, jewelry and books. Other attractions include art galleries, chocolatiers and the famous Into The Wind, where kids come to look at all the toys and colorful kites.
With the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains rising up a stone’s throw to the west, the Mall forms the heart of beautiful Boulder. It's the jumping-off point for mountain hikes, parks, walks down to the University of Colorado and annual events such as the huge Bolder Boulder 10K Road Race and the Boulder Creek Festival.
With its sense of excitement spicing up a laid-back atmosphere, it's a place you won't want to miss.
- by David Zindell, Denver Reporter for HelloMetro
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