Longmont Bike Paths/Trail Closures... 2015

Wondering if your favorite stretch of the St. Vrain Greenway is open yet after the flood? The city has a current map of trail and park closures available on their website, which is being updated as work gets done.

You can see the most recent version of this map here: https://longmontco.maps.arcgis.com/apps/StorytellingTextLegend/index.html?appid=befda9b57f6c4b4fba8ef77f224c1175


Here is a screenshot of how things look right now (May 30, 2015). Red lines are closed paths. (Click to see a bigger picture.)

Blue Ribbon Farm

Where: 10147 Hover St, Longmont, CO 80501 (303) 774-7717

Web: https://www.facebook.com/BRFarmLongmont

When: Every day from 9am to 6pm during their retail seasons -

Retail Seasons:

• May-July: Bedding plants
• Sept-Oct: Huge selection of mums
• Dec: Christmas trees, wreaths, boughs and garlands

Tucked away across Hover St. from Roger's Grove and the Boulder County Fairgrounds, Blue Ribbon Farms is our preferred spot for gardening necessities every spring. And it's always a pleasure to visit, with bursts of floral color and scents at every turn. 

Locally owned and operated by the Sipes Family, Blue Ribbon is the kind of friendly, low-key place where they remember your name -- and sometimes even your dog's name. They also know their stuff: if you're in need of any advice, whether it's about what soil to use or what to plant in your vegetable bed, just ask any staff member. They're happy to help. You can be sure that everything they sell is carefully hand-selected for the area (unlike at big box stores where it can be hit and miss.)

Good to know: Blue Ribbon sells Christmas trees every holiday season -- a great local alternative to the supermarket.

Longmont Bike Night - 2015

When: Wednesdays, 6:30pm, May-September  (Bike Night launches on May 13th!)

Where: Rides start at Roosevelt Park, under the flags on the east side of the park. 

Web: www.bicyclelongmont.org

Blog: www.longmontbikenight.org

Wednesday evenings in the summer are filled with the cheerful sound of ringing bike bells, as hundreds of cyclists young and old cruise through the shady streets of Old Town Longmont. Bike Night is a very popular summer activity — and every week seems to draw bigger crowds. Routes generally stick to the Old Town area and they're usually pretty easy, not to mention safe, thanks to the presence of police escorts (riding along on bikes, of course). Kids will love the whimsical weekly themes, which encourage dressing up. This year has included rides devoted to the totally rad 1980s, Prom Night and, entertainingly, the holiday season. Nothing stranger and more charming than a flock of cyclists in Santa hats rolling into a hot summer night.

Field Notes: Devil's Backbone Open Space, Loveland

Devil's Backbone Open Space, Plaster Mill Rd, Loveland, 20 miles from Longmont 

12 miles of trails which connect to Rimrock Open Space and then Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. About 1.5 miles from the parking lot to the keyhole. This is a really nice easy hike that is only 20 miles from Longmont. Located in Loveland, it is surrounded by communities of homes so it does not feel like you are escaping into nature. Still, the rock formation is stunning and feels quintessentially western. The keyhole - an impressive rock arch - is only about 1.5 miles from the parking lot making it a great destination for kids while the adults will appreciate the view of Longs Peek, Meeker, the Twin Sisters and more.

(As I write this post it is cold and snowy, but these photos were taken only a few weeks ago on a warm and sunny day in January. )

For more local hikes see here and here. 

Serendipity Mercantile

Serendipity Mercantile closed their doors in 2016. Sad! :(

Where: 635 Third Ave.

When: Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm

Web: facebook.com/serendipitymercantile

Longmont has several large indoor flea markets around town, but Serendipity Mercantile is by far the most pleasurable shopping experience. Located in a historic building one block off of Main Street, part of its charm is the brick walls and the large windows. 

Serendipity also offers a more curated collection of vintage and antique merchandise than its competitors (i.e., there's less crap to sift through). I love to browse their selection of antique and mid-century furniture, and if you like kitschy kitchenware, this is definitely the place. Serendipity also has a large selection of vintage clothing and jewelry (perfect for Halloween costumes).

In the back of the store, there is a small collection of vinyl (my husband's first and only stop) and a section of architectural salvage (old doors, shutters, and hardware). While much of the merchandise is pricy (these folks definitely know the worth of what they are selling), there are plenty of deals to be had as well.