What Is Open in Longmont on Sunday?

If you have lived in Longmont for any amount of time, you may find yourself asking, "What is open in Longmont on Sunday?" Downtown, in particular, seems to become a ghost town, and if you are looking for a meal out, some of your weekday favorites will not be available to receive you.

For my own reference, as well as yours, I am compiling a list of options that keep their doors open on Sunday. This is not everything, of course, just the L100 top picks. So if you are looking for a bite to eat out on Sunday, here is what we recommend.

Breakfast/Brunch

Lucile's Creole Cafe 
518 Kimbark Street (8 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Java Stop
301 Main St. (6 a.m. - 1 p.m.)

 Two Dog Diner

Two Dog Diner
645 Tenacity Drive (8 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

ModMarket
700 Ken Pratt Blvd, next to Lucky's Market (8 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

The Roost
526 Main Street (10 a.m. -10 p.m.)

Lunch

Cheese Importers
103 Main St. (11 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Georgia Boys BBQ
237 Collyer St. (11 a.m. - 4 p.m. or until sold out)

Comida 
721 Confidence Dr. (11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

Urban Thai 
2030 Ionosphere St. (11 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

Longs Peak Pub & Tap House
600 Longs Peak Ave. (11 a.m. - 12 a.m.)

Proto's Pizzeria
600 South Airport Road (11 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

The Roost
526 Main Street (10 a.m. -10 p.m.)

 Cheese Importers

Dinner

Longs Peak Pub & Tap House
600 Longs Peak Ave. (11 a.m. - 12 a.m.)

Comida 
721 Confidence Dr. (11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

Urban Thai 2030 Ionosphere St. (11 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

Proto's Pizzeria
600 South Airport Road (11 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

The Roost
526 Main Street (10 a.m. -10 p.m.)

Comida

Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch

Where: 9057 Ute Hwy  Longmont, CO 80503 (303) 684-0087

Web: www.rockymtnpumpkinranch.com 
When: The October Pumpkin Festival is on weekends in October, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Select activities also available M-F, 9a.m.-5p.m.

October in Longmont isn't complete without at least one visit to the Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch. On Saturdays and Sundays, this Highway 66 spot offers carnival rides, petting zoos, pony rides, bouncy play structures, corn mazes ... and oh yeah, a whole lot of pumpkins. Pick out your perfect Jack O' Lantern, soak up the late fall sunshine and take in some gorgeous, unobstructed views of Longs Peak. The Pumpkin Ranch isn't slick, but it's a lot of fun. Admission is free, but you have to buy tickets for the rides.

During the week, the Pumpkin Ranch is operating at a much smaller scale, and for $7, kids can do all the activities that are open as much as they want. No petting zoo or rides, but plenty of bouncing and running through the hay maze. The market is open every day, so even if you don't have kids, it's a necessary trip if you want a fresh caramel apple or some tasty apple cider. During our last visit they were even roasting some wonderful Colorado green chilies.

Pigs & Pinot Farm Dinner

For the past year or two, Feast Supper Club has been throwing pop-up foodie gatherings in Longmont and beyond. Over the winter, the events could be anywhere from a house to a warehouse. In the growing season, however, Feast usually hosts farm dinners: elaborate and elegant meals set up among the crops of one of the many scenic farms in the area. This year's Pigs & Pinot farm dinner was hosted by the beautiful Pachamama Organic Farm which sits on the far western edge of rural Longmont.

Melissa and Tim, the folks behind Feast, have been near and dear to Longmont's culinary scene for years. Up until last year, they were running Terroir, a successful farm-to-table restaurant situated right downtown. When the lease ran up, the landlord had different ideas, and Melissa and Tim chose to close Terroir's doors. While they may have a brick-and-mortar again in the future, and here's hoping that it is in Longmont, for now we can catch a bite (or several mouthwatering courses) at one of these pop-up dinners.

The Pigs & Pinot farm dinner is, as you can imagine, a celebration of all things swine, from the passed hors d'ouevres at the start to dessert at the tail end of the evening (bacon caramel, anyone?) All the pork came from John Long in Eaton, and of course all the delicious produce came from the very fields we were sitting in at Pachamama. The pinot noir was imported from various Oregon wineries, and if something needs to be brought in from out of state, it is definitely the wine. All in all, a perfect meal.

Follow Feast Supper Club on Facebook so that you can stay up-to-date on future gatherings: https://www.facebook.com/FeastSupperClub

Learn more about Pachamama Organic Farm and sign up for their CSA!
http://pachamamafarm.com

Fresh & Local: Longmont Farm Stands

Need to pick up a pumpkin? Hankering for some Swiss chard? These fabulous farms have got you covered. And here's where it gets really good: you don't have to wait until the weekly farmer's market rolls around to get your fresh fix, because these farm stands are open every day of the week. Details below for locations and times for some of Longmont's best farm stands. Updated for 2016

Ollin Farms

8627 North 95th St

http://www.ollinfarms.com

Open Daily, Friday-Sunday 10am-3pm; Monday-Thursday 10am-6pm.

Aspen Moon

7927 Hygiene Road
http://www.aspenmoonfarm.com/

Open Daily 10am-6pm during the season

Tanaka Market

10760 Mineral Road
http://www.dicktanakafarms.com

Open Daily 10am-5pm during the season

Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch

9057 Ute Hwy/CO 66
http://www.rockymtnpumpkinranch.com/

September: Friday through Sunday, 10am-5pm. October: Open Daily, 9am-6pm

Longmont 100 at ArtWalk!

Remember when I was all sad and mopey, bemoaning the high flood waters in Longmont? That is so several days ago! Now I am pleased as punch to be telling you that Longmont 100 will be at ArtWalk this Friday, September 20th!

 

My food photography partner-in-crime and business partner-extraordinaire (she's the same person, her name is Sarah, and she's pictured above) and I have put together a series of photos depicting the farm-to-table scene in Longmont. We were lucky enough to get behind-the-scenes tours of Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy, Harold's & the Bayonet Room, and Oskar Blue's Hops & Heifers Farm. These three awesome businesses embody the artisanal food scene in Colorado that gets us excited - plus, it is right here in our own backyard. We will also have Colorado Crafted gift boxes and treats for sale. Good stuff.

Come out to ArtWalk and say hello. Our photos will be on sale, and every last cent of profits will go to the St Vrain Flooding Relief Fund via Longmont Community Foundation. 100% of the proceeds from the St. Vrain Flooding Relief Fund will go directly towards helping the community recover from the devastation of the recent flooding.

After you visit us at ArtWalk, you should walk over to Roosevelt Park and enjoy Oktoberfest (also going on noon to 10pm on Saturday.) Since Left Hand Brewing took over this event, it has become truly awesome, and this year all the proceeds to go flood relief! So if you ever needed a reason to drink a beer with friends, there you have it. It is for a good cause, people.

Flooding in Longmont

I have debated doing a Longmont 100 post on the little beach that we like to go to along the St. Vrain Greenway for a while now. My daughter loves it, and it makes a great biking destination on a hot day. My dog also loves to dip his paws in the cold water. But it is just a tiny, rocky area with only a small creek rushing by. It feels crowded if there are more than two families enjoying the clear water. Tyler and I come from opposite coasts, where calling something like this a "beach" would be almost laughable. I decided not to bother with a post about it.

This was us enjoying it last weekend. It was a hot day, and we all looked forward to the upcoming week which was supposed to bring cool, rainy weather. We always look forward to the rain in Colorado. The rain came, and it didn't stop for days. It rained, it poured, it sprinkled, it poured some more. Dams broke. Creeks became rivers. Streets became rivers. Clear mountain streams turned brown and turbulent, stretching hundreds of feet in width.

The rain has stopped for now, but with more expected tonight. The floodwaters have already subsided significantly allowing the city, homeowners, and business owners to deal with the damage left behind. Tyler and I were lucky. We live only blocks from where the above photo was taken, but we are up the hill in Old Town, safe and dry.

I feel heartbroken over the state of things. The people who have lost their homes. The small businesses who may not recover. The wonderful parks and greenways which have been destroyed.

Mostly, what I see on Facebook is optimism. Businesses giving the thumbs up that things aren't quite as bad as they could have been. Our awesome breweries being first in line to volunteer and to set up flood relief funds. From what I have seen, the city has done a great job handling this disaster. Here is hoping that things continue to improve. Let's see some of that Colorado sunshine.

 Golden Ponds, pre-flood

Cheese Importers

Where: 103 Main St, Longmont, CO 80501
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Web: www.cheeseimporters.com

We've been lavishing praise on Longmont's mighty Cheese Importers for years. "Magical," "unbelievable," "totally awesome" are words we've used when describing the place to out-of-towners. And that was all before this fromage emporium moved to its new, (totally awesome) location on Main Street. Previously, Cheese Importers had been tucked away in the warehouse/industrial section of town, a hidden gem if ever there was one. 

Now, it's no longer hidden, having taken over the city's former power station, right on the outskirts of downtown. It was perfect before, and now it's even more perfect: there's an expansive, walk-in cooler with 350 cheeses from all over the world available, not to mention olives, cured meats and more (lots of samples, too); there's a shop with cookbooks, gourmet candy, kids' toys, home furnishings, and art; and there's the Parisian-style cafe, Bistrot des Artistes, offering delectable sandwiches, pastries, coffee, desserts and (soon) wine, all in a sunny, very classy setting. As the French would say, "C'est si bon!" 

Comida

Where: 721 Confidence Drive

Hours: Sunday – Thursday 11am – 9pm; Friday and Saturday 11am – 10pm

Web: www.eatcomida.com

As you've probably noticed, gourmet food trucks are all the rage these days. With low overhead costs and easy mobility, more and more chefs are taking to to the streets. But one of the Front Range's best food trucks has made the leap back into the brick-and-mortar world -- with dazzling results. Comida, located in Longmont's Prospect neighborhood, opened last year and quickly became one of our favorite local spots to eat.

Putting an inspired spin on classic Mexican street food, pretty much every last thing we've tried has delivered incredible deliciousness, from tacos to gorditas and tostadas to quesadillas. The offerings can be out of the ordinary too -- there are some really out of this world, truly adventurous flavor combos here. Por ejemplo, the Sirloin Situation taco is made up of slow cooked sirloin in Negra Modelo over smoked gouda sweet potato mash with roasted onions and house crema. Even if you're not sure what that would end up tasting like, trust us, it's amazing. Comida's setting is perfect too: lively, friendly and very pink. Throw in a great bar, with local beers on tap and a magnificent margarita, and you've got one of Longmont's best restaurants.

Hiking and Trails Near Longmont

How far do you have to drive from Longmont to get to trails? Not far at all. I wanted to put together a sampling of the nearby trails that you can find without driving more than 25 miles. (Willing to drive further? You will find everything you could possibly want!) Please keep in mind, that this is just a sampling and there is plenty more to be found.

IN LONGMONT

These trails are in Longmont and as such are easy and flat. Great for dog walking, hiking, biking, and stunning views.

LoBo Trail

easy, 12 mile planned trail from Longmont to Boulder (Oh, hey... we wrote about it here.)

 McIntosh Lake

easy, 3.6 mile loop around the lake (Yep, we wrote about this one too.)

Pella Crossing

easy, Braly Trails (2.5 mi) and Marlatt Trail (1.1 mi) circle around the lakes near Hygiene

Lagerman Reservoir

easy, Lagerman Loop is a 1.6 mile trail around the reservoir

UNDER 15 MILES FROM LONGMONT

Less than 15 miles gets you into Lyons and all the trailheads you can find there. Everything from easy strolls to much more vigorous climbs.

Rabbit Mountain

Lyons (12 mi from Longmont)
easy and moderate trails. Great for bikers, hikers, and equestrians.

 Rabbit Mountain

Hall Ranch

Lyons (13 mi from Longmont)
moderate and difficult trails. Over 3,000 acres of open space provides excellent viewing opportunities for wildflowers, animals, and scenic landscapes. (No dogs allowed.)

Heil Valley Ranch

Lyons (14 mi from Longmont)
easy and moderate trails. Over 5,000 acres of beautiful hanging valleys, picturesque vistas, and forest meadows with trails open to hikers, bikers, and equestrians.

UNDER 20 MILES FROM LONGMONT

 Now you are really getting somewhere: the City of Boulder's great park system and more trailheads on the outskirts of Lyons.

Mount Sanitas

Boulder (16 mi from Longmont)
Easy, moderate, difficult trails. This is an extremely popular trailhead open to hikers and equestrians (no bikes).

Chautauqua Park

Boulder (17 mi from Longmont)
Easy, moderate, difficult trails. Another extremely popular Boulder trailhead which is a must-visit for out-of-town guests.

Button Rock Preserve

Lyons (18 mi from Longmont)
Easy, moderate trails. Beautiful views, lots of birdwatching and wildlife, and the Button Rock Dam is a hit with kids. (Read more about Button Rock here.)

Button Rock Preserve

Devil's Backbone Open Space 

Loveland (20 mi from Longmont)
Easy, moderate trails. Twelve miles of trails but only about 1.5 miles to the keyhole. Close to civilization, but the Devil's Backbone rock formation is stunning and the hike is pretty easy, making this a good trail for kids and out-of-town guests.

Devil's Backbone Open Space

UNDER 25 MILES FROM LONGMONT

World class hikes, rock climbing, and everything you could ask for -- just a short drive away.

Betasso Preserve

Boulder (22 mi from Longmont)
Easy, moderate, difficult trails. Diverse terrain means there's something for everyone.

Walker Ranch

Boulder (24 mi from Longmont)
Easy, moderate, difficult trails. An array of ecosystems and gorgeous vistas.

Eldorado Canyon State Park

Golden (25 mi from Longmont)
Easy, moderate, difficult trails. A state park with technical rock climbing, streamside picnic areas and trails with panoramic vistas.

Stephen Day Park

Where: 1340 Deerwood Dr  Longmont, CO 80504
Web: http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/parks/park_list/overview/StephenDayPark.htm

Way over on the east side of town, but worth the trip if you've got kids. Stephen Day Park is a lovely patch of green with whimsical, winding pathways, rolling hills and a fun, spraying water feature, great for those particularly hot summer days. If your kid is a bit of a daredevil, he or she will definitely make a beeline to the BMX/mountain bike area, where there are bumps, dips and dives that will provide hours of dusty (possibly muddy) fun. There's also a smallish concrete skatepark. Wear those helmets, kids!

Sunflower Farm

An updated post about Sunflower Farm can be found here.

Where: 1150 Prospect Road
Web: www.sunflowerfarminfo.com
Hours: See website

Located on a beautiful hillside right off of Highway 287, Sunflower Farm offers families a chance to experience a real, working farm in all its neighing, baa-ing and oinking glory. You *will* get your hands dirty!  Kids can feed the friendly animals (including cows, horses, pigs, sheep), collect eggs, clamber on top of a hay bale and play on the very cool treehouse. Our daughter especially loved the big swing, which sent her soaring through the air. Whee!

 

 As shown in the hours listed above, Sunflower isn't open to the public over the summer
except on Friday evenings -- but if your kid is between 3 and 10, sign 'em up for the farm's summer camp in June, July and August, 9am to 12:30pm, Wednesday through Friday. They'll get lots of sunshine, learn all about the rural way of life -- and probably come home wondering why there isn't chicken coop in the backyard.

Downtown Summer Concert Series

Where: Corner of 4th Ave and Kimbark Street
When: Fridays at 6 p.m.: June 7, June 14, June 21, June 28, July 5, July 26, 2013
Web: www.downtownlongmont.org

The streets of downtown Longmont are filled with the sound of music on several Friday nights over the summer, as locals gather for these very fun and very free concerts. We caught the first show last week and it was a blast, with Chris Daniels and the Kings providing the swinging soundtrack, beer from Longmont's own Left Hand Brewing and Oskar Blues, BBQ from the great Georgia Boys and a festive street party atmosphere. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy some tunes on a hot summer night.

 

 2013 Lineup

June 7 -  Chris Daniels and the Kings
June 14 - Retro Sonics
June 21 - Something Underground
June 28 - Chris Thompson & Coral Creek
July 5 - Quemando
July 26 - Girls On Top

Java Stop

Where: 301 Main St.
When: Tuesday-Saturday 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday 6 a.m. - 1 p.m. (closed Mondays)

Who needs Starbucks? There's no shortage of independently owned coffee shops in Longmont. Those in search of a caffeine fix can choose from the very popular Ziggy's, the excellent Luna Cafe (or up until recently known as Caffe Luna), the relatively new La Vita Bella and several others.

But our preferred coffee shop these days is the cozy Java Stop, located downtown in the historic Imperial Hotel building. The couches are comfy, the coffee is excellent, the pastries are fresh and the vibe is extremely low key and friendly. The prices are extremely reasonable too -- almost too reasonable. 

Owned and operated tirelessly by a husband-wife team, Java Stop has the feel of a community gathering spot, where conversation flows and new friends are made. Extra points go to this spot for being very kid-friendly -- there's a fully stocked closet with toys, games and children's books.

Spring Farm Season

While doing a little shopping downtown at Brown Shoes, Simply Bulk, and Sun Rose Cafe, I came across this sign outside of Old Town Outfitters. We just love Old Town Outfitters. First off, they sell great outdoorsy products and clothing, but what really makes me happy is their enthusiasm for Longmont and their involvement in the community. If you haven't stopped by recently, you should.

The folks at OTO are just as excited about the impending growing season as Longmont100 is, as exhibited by this chalkboard. The Longmont Farmers Market is only a week away (April 6th!), CSAs are taking orders, and local farm stands have already started selling produce. Indeed, it looks like spring farm season in Longmont is here!

CHUBurger Menu

We still have a few more days before the hotly anticipated CHUBurger opens its doors (it is slated to open on Friday, April 5th), but if you want to know just what Oskar Blues will be serving up at their new "craft casual" joint, you can check out their menu. Everything looks mighty good to us, and knowing that they will have an extensive beer menu has us counting down the days.

Update: CHUBurger now has a vegetarian option! It is the Gonzo Garbanzo, and it is basically a falafel masquerading as a burger. For you non-veggie types, they also have a hot dog option: the impressively topped Hawg Dawg.

Osprey Cam

Interested in doing a little bird watching, but don't want to leave the comforts of your own home? Now you can with the convenience of the osprey cam!

Two osprey have been roosting at the Boulder County Fairgrounds for years now, and all their bird business is available to be viewed courtesy of the live stream available at this link.

Photo courtesy of Boulder County Open Space.